The Department of Justice on Monday said the National Bureau of Investigation has sought the filing of charges of hoarding and
profiteering against sick persons, three of them government officials, in connection with the sale of onions last December when prices soared
to as much as P587 per kilo.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the NBI made the recommendation to prosecute the six hoarders and profiteers after they
gathered sufficient evidence during an investigation to hold them liable for committing the crimes.
But Remulla did not reveal the identities of those recommended for formal investigation pending the evaluation to be done by the DOJ’s
national prosecution service.
According to him, the NBI’s probe on the prices and supply of onions was ordered by President Marcos.
Aside from hoarding and profiteering, Remulla said the violations may lead to price manipulation and economic sabotage, a capital offense.
“Government officials are among those recommended for prosecution because we believe that they are also involved,” Remulla said.
“This is just the start. There will be more cases to be filed and the NBI will continue with its investigation,” he added.
Justice Undersecretary Geronimo Sy said the recommendation of the NBI stemmed from the overpriced onions sold in the market back in December
that reached up to P537 per kilogram even if the farmgate price or cost of production was only between P8 to P15 per kilo.
Sy said that due to a lack of supply, the Department of Agriculture (DA) procured back in December 8,000 bags of onions at 25 kilos per
bag.
“There was payment for actual deliveries from funds downloaded from the DA,” he said.
But he said the investigators found that there was only one bidder who submitted three bids. “The other bids were fictitious so that the preferred bidder will win in the bidding process,” he stressed.